Check off these wrestling hotspots from your bucket list.
I hate dead crowds. There’s nothing worse than watching an amazing wrestling match or a surprise appearance and the crowd goes flat-line with no reaction. If I hate it, imagine what the wrestlers and backstage executives feel like! No matter how epic the card is, lackluster live crowds are kryptonite to any wrestling show.
I still remember the piss poor reaction Baltimore gave the returning Jake “The Snake” Roberts back in 2014:
Luckily for traveling brands like the WWE, there are certain cities that always bring their A-game to shows, whether it be for TV or a PPV. With these locales, you know that the crowd is going to be raucous, interactive and an equally important character to the show than anyone competing in the ring.
Just like a really good soundtrack gives a movie its emotion, a passionate wrestling crowd is instrumental in creating magic inside the squared circle. They can make or break careers/storylines.
While the world has some great wrestling cities, here are 7 that standout for their histories, influence and love for the mat.
Chicago, IL
We get it Chicago. You love CM Punk.
No matter how long he’s been away, fans still mark out and chant Punk’s name. Now, going to a wrestling event in The Windy City is on my bucket-list. That’s how much respect I have for the Chicago faithful. The fans are smart, wild and love their hometown boys.
The city has a rich wrestling history, having hosted its share of Raw’s and pay-per-views including WrestleMania (2, 13, 22).
Two favorite moments come to mind when thinking of Chicago and wrestling. The first is the iconic match between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret “The Hitman” Hart, at WrestleMania 13. The bloody bout that cemented Austin as a superstar.
The second is Chris Jericho’s WWE debut, where he had a smack off with The Rock. I can still quote the entire segment. Arguably the best crowd reaction ever for Raw.
Los Angeles, CA
You’d be greatly mistaken if you think LA crowds are just glitz and glamour. Granted there are a large amount of celebrities that attend WWE shows and PPV’s, but the world capital of entertainment has a passionate wrestling fan base.
The City of Angels has been a WWE staple when it comes to hosting WrestleMania’s and was even the home base for SummerSlam during a six-year run (2009-2014). On top of that, Indy wrestling darling Pro Wrestling Gorilla (PWG) calls LA home and the temple for Lucha Underground is also found in the heart of the city.
If you’re lucky, you might even catch Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello at a match:
Here’s a classic Los Angeles moment back in WrestleMania 7, when The Ultimate Warrior defeated “Macho Man” Randy Savage in a retirement match:
New York, NY
Of course New York is on the list. Come on man, this city has so much wrestling history that I could write a book about it (I’m sure someone already has).
The WWE’s headquarters might be in Stamford, CT, but the heart of the machine is in The City That Never Sleeps. The world famous Madison Square Garden has been a beacon for every wrestling legend in the business. Not only is NYC the birthplace of Hulkamania and Monday Night Raw, but it’s also home to an eclectic mix of passionate and hardnosed fans. With a collection of surrounding areas like NJ and international fans flying in for events, there’s nothing like the energy of a New York crowd.
Checkout the mega pop The Rock received last time he stopped by Brooklyn:
NXT Full Sail University – Orlando, FL
There are two reasons why I want to visit Orlando. The first is to visit Walt Disney World. I want to drink around Epcot’s World Showcase and get my Mickey ears with my name on them.
Second, I want to yell, sing and chant my heart away at the NXT arena. The hottest wrestling brand in the world is also home to the best wrestling crowd currently going.
Talk about passionate fans—watch any NXT weekly show and you’ll find this crowd praising a favorite or hissing at a corporate creation.
Besides the recent NXT boom, WCW used to call Orlando home during the height of the Monday Night Wars when they taped shows out of both Disney/MGM studios and Universal Studios Florida.
Montreal, Canada
Don’t let the beauty of the city fool you—there’s some volatile fans here. Montreal—and Canadian fans in general—love pro wrestling almost as much as hockey. These fans are vocal, in your face and make no apologies about supporting homegrown talent. From Bret Hart to Chris Jericho (and now Kevin Owens to Sami Zayn), Canadian wrestlers are treated like conquering heroes every time they return to this Northern city.
Going back to the infamous 1997 Montreal Screwjob, fans here aren’t big fans of Vince McMahon or the typical American “good guy” wrestler. They even booed Steve Austin during the attitude era, which shows how topsy-turvy things can get there.
Philadelphia, PA
ECW.ECW.ECW.
Sure there’s more to this city’s wrestling history than Extreme Championship Wrestling but let’s be honest, that will always be the first thing that comes to mind.
The last thing a vanilla wrestler wants to see, is a tough and savvy audience. And that’s what Philly is. If you deliver a crap product that doesn’t sit well with this group, not only will they let you know, but they will mock and force you to change plans (e.g. Royal Rumble 2015).
London/UK
These fans are just another breed.
The UK crowds are game changers that bring the party to the arena. Singing, random chants (“We want ice cream”) and humor are what the Brits have given to wrestling fandom. They also tend to hijack a show when the product in the ring is boring them. Watch any Raw the night after WrestleMania and you’ll see their influence all over the show.
